IUBMB Enzyme Nomenclature

EC 2.1.1.115

Accepted name: (RS)-1-benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline N-methyltransferase

Reaction: S-adenosyl-L-methionine + (RS)-1-benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline = S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine + N-methyl-(RS)-1-benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline

Other name(s): norreticuline N-methyltransferase

Systematic name: S-adenosyl-L-methionine:(RS)-1-benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline N-methyltransferase

Comments: broad substrate specificity for (RS)-1-benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines; including coclaurine, norcoclaurine, isococlaurine, norarmepavine, norreticuline and tetrahydropapaverine. Both R- and S-enantiomers are methylated. The enzyme participates in the pathway leading to benzylisoquinoline alkaloid synthesis in plants. The physiological substrate is likely to be coclaurine. The enzyme was earlier termed norreticuline N-methyltransferase. However, norreticuline has not been found to occur in nature and that name does not reflect the broad specificity of the enzyme for (RS)-1-benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines.

Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, Metacyc, PDB, CAS registry number: 132084-82-3

References:

1. Frenzel, T., Zenk, M.H. Purification and characterization of three isoforms of S-adenosyl-L-methionine: (R,S)-tetrahydrobenzyl-isoquinoline N-methyltransferase from Berberis koetineana cell cultures. Phytochemistry 29 (1990) 3491-3497.

[EC 2.1.1.115 created 1999]


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